Muscular System Terms

During an exciting soccer match, Jariah, with a swift move, kicks the ball to the side, moving her leg away from the midline of her body. Natalie cheers from the sidelines, "What a move!" What is this movement called?

• Abduction

• Adduction

• Circumduction

• Flexion

Answer explanation

The movement described, where Aiden kicks the ball to the side, is called abduction. This term refers to moving a limb away from the midline of the body, which is exactly what occurs when he kicks the ball to the side.

During a lively dance-off, Ariana twirls around, performing a graceful circular movement with her arm that combines flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction. What is this captivating movement called?

• Circumduction

• Rotation

• Supination

• Pronation

Answer explanation

The movement Zoe performs is called circumduction. This involves a circular motion that combines flexion, extension, abduction, and adduction, allowing her arm to move in a circular path.

In a lively gym class, Getse and Elli are on a mission to discover the secrets of muscle magic! Can you help them figure out what the ability of a muscle to shorten and generate force when stimulated is called?

• Elasticity

• Contractibility

• Extensibility

• Excitability

Answer explanation

The ability of a muscle to shorten and generate force when stimulated is known as contractibility. This is a key function of muscles, allowing them to perform movements and exert force.

During an exciting soccer match, Preston, with his eyes on the ball, skillfully moves his foot upward, bringing his toes closer to his shin. What is this impressive movement called?

• a) Plantar flexion

• b) Dorsiflexion

• c) Supination

• d) Pronation

Answer explanation

The movement of bringing the toes closer to the shin is called dorsiflexion. This action decreases the angle between the foot and the leg, contrasting with plantar flexion, which points the toes away from the shin.

During a lively gym class, Getse and Ariana were having a friendly competition to see who could stretch a rubber band the farthest. After each stretch, they watched in amazement as the rubber band snapped back to its original shape. What is this magical ability of a muscle to return to its original shape after being stretched or contracted?

• Elasticity

• Extensibility

• Contractibility

• Excitability

Answer explanation

The ability of a muscle to return to its original shape after being stretched or contracted is called elasticity. This is similar to how a rubber band behaves, making elasticity the correct choice.

Patience and Gisel are on a mission to explore how muscle or nerve cells react when they receive a signal. What is the superpower of these cells that allows them to respond to stimuli by producing electrical impulses?

• Elasticity

• Extensibility

• Contractibility

• Excitability

Answer explanation

The ability of muscle and nerve cells to respond to stimuli by producing electrical impulses is known as excitability. This characteristic allows them to react to signals effectively.

Imagine Ini and her friend Paola are having a fun race to see who can stand up the fastest from a sitting position! When Ini stands up, what is the movement that increases the angle between her thigh and lower leg?

• a) Flexion

• b) Extension

• c) Rotation

• d) Circumduction

Answer explanation

When Hannah stands up, her thigh moves away from her lower leg, increasing the angle at the knee. This movement is called extension, as it straightens the joint.

Imagine you're a superhero like Jariah, and you need to know what the special band or sheet of connective tissue is that surrounds, supports, and separates your muscles and organs. What is it called?

• Tendons

• Fascia

• Insertion

• Origin

Answer explanation

Fascia is a band or sheet of connective tissue that surrounds, supports, and separates muscles and organs, making it the correct answer. Tendons connect muscles to bones, while insertion and origin refer to muscle attachment points.

After a thrilling race with her friends, Ini felt her heart pounding like a drum. What do we call a muscle action that happens on its own, without us even thinking about it, like a heartbeat or digestion?

• Voluntary

• Involuntary

• Skeletal muscle

• Cardiac muscle

Answer explanation

The correct answer is 'Involuntary' because actions like heartbeat occur automatically without conscious control, unlike voluntary actions that require conscious effort.

Patience and Celeste were having a friendly debate about how our bodies work. Patience pointed out that even when she was just standing still, her muscles seemed to be doing a little dance to keep her upright. Celeste was curious and asked, "What is this continuous and passive partial contraction of muscles called that helps us maintain our posture?"

• Muscle tone

• Muscular system

• Fascia

• Tendons

Answer explanation

The continuous and passive partial contraction of muscles that helps maintain posture is called muscle tone. It allows the body to stay upright and stable, even when at rest.